Suspenders



K. CHASE 'May 5, 1936.'

SUSPENDERS Filed Aug. 24, 1955 allai Patented May 5, 1936 UNITED STATES SUSPENDERS Kenneth Chase, East Walpole, Mass., assgnor to George Frost Company, Boston, Mass., a cor poration of Massachusetts Application August 24, 1935, Serial No. 37,773-

5 Claims.

This invention relates to Suspenders.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved form of suspenders in which the several supporting straps and other elements are so arranged and connected as to make for more comfort of the wearer and longer life than suspenders heretofore provided. These objects are attained, in accordance with my invention, by means of an arrangement embodying new and improved connections between the supporting straps and the garment-attaching means.

Another object is to provide an improved swivel connection for connecting suspender parts.

Further objects will become apparent from a reading of the following description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a perspective View of Suspenders embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a detail perspective View of a swivel connection, drawn on an enlarged scale and with the parts shown in separated relationship;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3 of Figure l and drawn on an enlarged scale;

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 1 and drawn on an enlarged scale; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 4.

The Suspenders illustrated as embodying the invention in one form comprise two back straps A--A connected respectively to combined shoulder and front straps B--B by means of swivel connections C,-C, a backl connecting tab or piece D, and garment-attaching tabs E connected to each shoulder strap B through the medium of a swivel connection generally designated F. The back straps A are, in the form shown, provided at their lower ends with button-holed tabs G of a con- Ventional kind.

In accordance with one feature of the invention, the back and front straps, which constitute the main supporting straps, are connected for swivel movements relative to each other and also relative to the connecting tab or piece D, this arrangement having been found to result in the several parts automatically accommodating their relative positions to conform to different positions of the wearer, so as to make for comfort and long wear.

The connecting of the parts in this manner is effected through the medium of the novel connecting devices C-C, which are identical in construction and only one of which, therefore, will be described. Each device C comprises two elements I-I of substantially rigid material such as thin metal and each of which consists of a loop portion 2` and a plate-like portion 3, the loop portions being attached to the associated straps A and B respectively, and the plate-like portions being in contiguous parallel planes and joined for swivel movements by a pintle Il. This, of course, provides for the desired swivel movements between the upper end of the back strap and the lower rear end of the shoulder strap. The adjacent end of the connecting tab or piece D is mounted for swivel movements on the pintle 4, and, in order to prevent the connecting piece D from becoming detached from the pintle, and to enclose the attached end of the connecting piece, I provide a shroud or cup-like member 5 preferi5 ably of metal. The shroud member 5 comprises a face portion 6 overlying the end Zone of the connecting piece D adjacent the pintle and a flange 'I which surrounds the end zone except for a cut out portion 8 through which the connecting piece extends, the depthof the flange being at least as great as the thickness of the connecting iece. The arrangement is such that the face portion E is held down against the end zone of the connecting piece bythe headed end of the pintle, 25 thereby preventing the connecting piece from slipping off the pintle when the pintle-receiving hole in the connecting piece becomes enlarged. The flanged shroud furthermore presents a neat appearance and serves to prevent the enclosed end of the connecting piece from becoming frayed, and damp from perspiration, thereby prolonging itsv life.

In order still further to increase the flexibility and hence the comfort of the whole organization, I provide the swivel connection devices F-F between the front ends of the shoulder straps and the tabs E. Since the devices F-F are identical, only one need be described. With more particular reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3, the preferred form includes an element 9 having a loop portion I0 connected to the shoulder strap, and a platelike portion II through which a pintle I2 passes, the latter projecting on both sides of the platelike portion II. The associated tabs E are positioned with their upper ends in planes parallel and contiguous to the respective opposite faces of the plate-like portion II, the projecting ends of the pintle passing through and being pivotally engaged by the tabs. In order to hold the tabs against displacement from the pintle and to enclose the pintle-connected ends thereof, I provide each tab with a shroud or Cup-like member generally designated I3 which is similar to the shroud 5 previously described. As shown, each shroud I3 includes a face portion I 4 connected to the pintle I2 independentlyof the tabs E and a flange portion I5 formed with a cut-out I6 through which the associated tab E passes. The arrangement shown provides for swivel movement of each tab relative to the other and relative to the shoulder strap.

Preferably, the plate-like portions 3 and I I o1 the elements I and 9 respectively have diameters at least as greatV as the diameters of the adjacent shrouds, whereby the plate-like portions and Shrouds conjointly enclose and protect the ends of the tabs.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that Y Suspenders embodying my invention not only adtween the back straps; a swivel connection common to and connecting one end of one back strap, one end of one shoulder strap, and one end of said connecting piece; a second swivel connection common to and connecting one end of the other back strap, one end of the other shoulder Strap, and the other end of said connecting piece; pairs of garment-attaching tabs, one pair for each Shoulder Strap; and pivotal means connecting said pairs of tabs to the respectively associated shoulder Straps, each of said pivotal means comprising a single pintle connected to the strap and passing through both tabs of the associated pair and thereby pivotally connecting said tabs for movements about the axis of said pintle as a common axls.

2. In Suspenders, the combination of two back straps; two shoulder straps; a connecting piece between the back Straps; a swivel connection common to and connecting one end of one back Strap, one end of one shoulder strap, and one end of said connecting piece; and a second swivel connection common to and connecting one end of the other back strap, one end of the other shoulder strap, and the other end of said connecting piece, each of said swivel connections comprising a pintle connected to said straps and passing through said connecting piece, and a cup-Shaped retaining member having a face overlying an end of YSaid connecting piece, and a flange surrounding the major portion of said end of said connecting piece but having a cut-out portion through which the connecting piece extends.

3. In Suspenders, the combination of a main supporting strap; a substantially rigid plate-like element connected to said strap; a pintle connected to said plate-like element; a supporting tab pivotally mounted on said pintle; and a substantially cup-shaped member having a face portion through which said pintle extends and which overlies the zone of Said tab through which said pintle passes, and a flange portion extending across the extreme end and along the sides of the end portion of said tab adjacent said pintle, said flange portion extending from said face portion at least to the surface of the tab most remote from said face portion, and said flange portion being formed with an opening through which said tab extends whereby the two sides, both faces, and the associated extreme end portion of said tab are housed between the cup-shaped element and said plate-like element.

4. In Suspenders, the combination of a main supporting strap; a substantially rigid plate-like element connected to said strap; a pintle connected to said plate-like element and projecting on both sides of Said plate-like element; two supporting tabs having their upper end portions positioned respectively on opposite Sides of said platelike member with the pintle passing through each; and means for vsecuring Said tabs in position on said pintle comprising for each tab a member having a face portion overlying the end portion of the tab and being connected to said pintle independently of the tab, and a flange portion extending across the extreme end and along the Sides of the end portion of said tab adjacent said pintle, the end portion of each tab thereby being enclosed between a cup-shaped element and Said plate-like element.

5. In Suspenders, the combination of a main Supporting strap; a pintle connected thereto; a tab pivotally connected to Said pintle; and a shroud covering one face of the pivot-connected end of the tab and also covering the adjacent end and side portions thereof in planes substantially at right angles to Said face of the tab, said shroud being also connected to said pintle.

KENNETH CHASE. 

